Recently, as I was packing up boxes of books for my upcoming move, I found several of my old handwritten journals. My teenage son was fascinated to see so many books in my handwriting. So, just for fun, I picked a random page to read … the picture below is where I landed. At this time of this entry, I was very overweight and working as a Training Director in Richmond, VA. ~ in the midst of hiring new staff. Meanwhile; I often wrote about wanting to lose weight and changing my habits or how I simply MUST exercise. I would get motivated, but it was fleeting. I would start and stop, over and over again. I often became paralyzed by analysis paralysis in my overly eager desire to plan every detail, to ‘get ready’ to make a change. Yet change never happened, and if it did, it did not last. Simply put, I failed dozens of ways before I ever achieved success in weight loss.
So what changed? My mindset. My focus. Instead of trying to change my whole life on the proverbial ‘Monday’ that never comes, I focused on just changing one bad habit, just one thing. Once I replaced a bad habit with a better habit, I moved on to the next challenge. The very first thing I did was give up Mt. Dew because I was drinking it like water and I knew it was terrible for my body. I didn’t worry about my nutrition or my exercise routine, counting calories or any of that, I just focused on giving up Mt. Dew and drinking water.
I often tell people I lost 175 pounds 5 pounds at a time. Seriously, I only focused on five pound goals. Now I am in maintenance mode and have been for over five years. Are my habits perfect? Of course not. Do I have room for improvement? Always. Do I have saggy skin and stretch marks in places? I’d be lying if I said I didn’t. To God be the glory for this marvelous mess of a temple that I enjoy.
Now while I’ve been a bit stressed and in transition, preparing for the move and selling my home, shifting my career, etc. ~ I think it is important to recognize when the good Lord sends us love notes of light. Even when those notes are in your very own handwriting.
As always, make champion choices,
The Healthy Habit Lady
